She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 169 - 168 Buying so Many Things

Chapter 169: Chapter 168 Buying so Many Things

Zhou Biyao furrowed her brows when she heard Nanny Zhong’s explanation, "Since it is something common to ordinary farming households, how could Lady Qi’s family not have it and need to purchase it hastily? Could it be that her family’s life was originally so difficult that, before she became steward to Sixth Master, they couldn’t afford this item?"

Nanny Zhong was somewhat overwhelmed by Zhou Biyao’s relentless questioning, "It’s not necessarily the case. Although a stone mill is common, it is not something that every ordinary farming household needs all the time, so not every family has one. Normally, when a farming family needs to use one, they would go to another household that has a stone mill to borrow it, and afterwards leave behind some flour or other such items as a token of gratitude."

"Oh, so that means Lady Qi’s family didn’t need this item before, but it’s possible that they will need it frequently from now on." Zhou Biyao defined her own understanding aloud and then asked, "Nanny, do you think Lady Qi mentioned buying a stone mill after meeting with Sixth Master Rong because the errand she received is related to using the stone mill, or is she craftily using this as an excuse to get rid of me?"

Nanny Zhong was taken aback and wondered how a task assigned by Sixth Master Rong, who was a prince from the royal family, could possibly be accomplished with just a stone mill? The likelihood of it being used as an excuse to get rid of Second Miss wasn’t high either.

But she couldn’t say that outright, so she vaguely responded, "If it’s used as an auxiliary tool, then it’s not impossible."

Zhou Biyao nodded and asked further, "Previously, I’ve heard about Lady Qi’s affairs from the people who scouted her out and from my brother. Having seen Lady Qi herself this time, do you think she really is as capable as the servants under Sixth Master’s employment?"

"As for that, this servant sees Lady Qi as a somewhat shrewd woman, but nothing else really stands out," Nanny Zhong replied tentatively.

After encountering Ye Xinyan, many of Zhou Biyao’s prior perceptions had become unclear. How could such a woman catch the eye of the most revered prince from the royal family?

Even if this woman’s appearance is somewhat attractive. But there are plenty of women with good looks in the world; it wouldn’t matter if Lady Qi were one less among them.

Thinking back to the servants that followed Ye Xinyan—the two nannies and a maid—even if they were all dressed in coarse cloth without a single accessory, their demeanor and attitude weren’t that of family servants from an ordinary household.

Such imposing family servants, she had only seen them once when accompanying her mother to a flower event in the Vice Minister’s Residence, after her father returned to the capital for his duties. Those were the family servants of prestigious clan in the capital.

It seems necessary to have her brother find out exactly what Lady Qi’s background is, and who her former in-laws were.

Recalling the scene when she saw Ye Xinyan on the street, Zhou Biyao changed the subject and asked, "Nanny, do you know how much a chief steward, like the one under Sixth Master, would earn in monthly salary?"

"That depends on how large of an estate the steward manages. I’m not very clear on the specific amount of the monthly salary," Nanny Zhong hastily said, "However, about hundred taels of silver should be there. A well-performing steward also gets a bonus at the end of the year, and that’s quite a significant income."

I see.

"Oh, with such an income and Sixth Master as a powerful patron, I suppose Lady Qi would live a very affluent life even without marrying," Zhou Biyao mused to herself.

"Not marrying?" Nanny Zhong didn’t understand. How could Second Miss Zhou, a lady from a sheltered background, bring up such a topic, and the implications of the topic seemed somewhat troubling.

Seeing the puzzled expression on Nanny Zhong’s face, Zhou Biyao couldn’t help but laugh, "I feel that, given Lady Qi’s situation, not only is she labeled as an abandoned wife, but she also parades around the street with several servants at her back. I’m afraid only a few particular households would be willing to accept such a daughter-in-law."

"That’s true," Nanny Zhong sighed in relief, as Second Miss Zhou always had unique perspectives. Thankfully, this time, such thoughts could allow the miss to reflect on herself and strive for self-discipline.

......

Ye Xinyan genuinely needed a stone mill and, after somewhat understanding Second Miss Zhou’s intentions, truly wanted to rid herself of her entanglement.

So, having shaken off Zhou Biyao, she actually bought a large stone mill. After paying the stonemason in full for the deposit and the transportation fee, she instructed him to hire an ox cart to deliver it to the second branch of the Qi family in Clear Water Village.

In fact, she hadn’t really deceived Zhou Biyao; although there was no stone mill on the cart she rode back to the village, it was crammed full of goods. After purchasing the stone mill, Ye Xinyan hired a horse-drawn carriage and, on her way back, stopped at various shops to buy enough oilcloth, tent canvas, and a few pieces of processed fur.

The cost of these items was indeed high, especially the fur, which led to her running out of silver. She even had to awkwardly borrow some from Nanny Liu to buy all the materials she had planned for.

Seeing the annoyance in Ye Xinyan’s eyes yet her effort to appear generous, Nanny Liu couldn’t help laughing, "The silver we servants carry is meant to meet the unforeseen needs of our master. Young Lady, if you need it, I still have quite a bit here, which should be enough for your use."

As a Family Servant dispatched by Prince Yu’s Mansion, she had emergency silver given by Prince Household’s Butler Uncle Wan on hand; naturally, she wouldn’t lose face over a little silver.

"Alright then." Ye Xinyan felt no more at ease because of Nanny Liu’s explanation, "During the time Nanny stays at the Qi family, I’ll give you the silver I can use so that you won’t always have to use your own Silver Coin."

Ox carts are inherently slow, and this one was further burdened with a stone mill. Even though the stonemason’s ox cart started early, it almost fell behind, arriving at Clear Water Village at the same time as Ye Xinyan’s horse-drawn carriage.

By that time, it was nearing Noon, and Nanny Zhou who stayed at home had, along with three others, prepared lunch.

Qi Younian, Cheung Wusi, and Wong Qiao returned from the cattle farm worksite and sat on the temporarily tidied kang bed in the outer room, chatting idly while waiting for Ye Xinyan to return so they could eat together.

Hearing the sound of hooves and the noise of wheels rolling closer, Nanny Zhou stepped out to see. She saw two vehicles one after the other approaching and, spotting Ye Xinyan crammed along with the goods on the horse-drawn carriage, hurriedly opened the gate of the courtyard and asked, "Are these goods to be unloaded in the courtyard?"

"Yes, unload them here in the courtyard first."

The horse carriage slowed down slightly at the gate, and Ye Xinyan jumped down, startling Nanny Zhou, "Young Lady, be careful. You should not do this in the future; wait until the carriage has come to a complete stop before getting off."

The gate of the second branch of the Qi family had been altered; during the time they made Rice tofu, it was modified to accommodate horse carriages and furniture, resulting in a double door wide enough for convenience.

Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Qi Younian and the other two also came out to look.

Suddenly seeing the numerous goods on both vehicles, Qi Younian asked, "Ye Zi, what are you planning with all these purchases?"

After paying her respects to Cheung Wusi and giving a nod to Wong Qiao, Ye Xinyan addressed Qi Younian, "You and Fourth Master drank and chatted late into the night yesterday, and I didn’t have the chance to discuss it with you. Our house will still need some time to finish building, and we can’t always have you three cramped in the shed. I thought it best to set up a tent to get by for the time being."